Tracing the causes behind America's opioid epidemic

“The Opioid Epidemic,” a one-hour PBS documentary that traces the causes behind the unprecedented growth in the use of prescription opioids and the devastating impact these drugs are having in virtually every part of the nation, interviews Richard Blondell, vice chair for addiction medicine and professor of family medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “I think some physicians don’t appreciate how potent these drugs are,” he said, “and don’t necessarily appreciate how many problems they can create.” The story appeared on PBS stations across the country.